TORIES ATTACK NFO PLANS
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MRS. Barbara Castle's blunt statement to the RHA that Freightliners would be owned and operated by the NFO brought an immediate and strong reaction from the Conservative leadership in the House of Commons.
Mr. Peter Walker, shadow Transport Minister, said nothing could be more calculated to undermine the morale of the railways than this "stupid Act". Less than 24 hours later, on Wednesday afternoon, the Conservative front bench transport team put down a motion in the Commons expressing "deep concern" at the Minister's decision.
It would, they said, take away from the railways the fastest expanding feature of their activities, have a detrimental effect on the morale of railmen, increase still further the alarming BR deficit and do nothing to improve co-ordination between road and rail.